GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
Список книг автора GEORGE BERNARD SHAWYou Never Can Tell
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) is revered as one of the great British dramatists, credited not only with memorable works, but the revival of the then-suffering English theatre. Shaw was born in Dublin, Ireland, left mostly to his own devices after his mother ran off to London to pursue a musical career. He educated himself for the most part, and eventually worked for a real estate agent. This experience founded in him a concern for social injustices, seeing poverty and general unfairness afoot, and would go on to address this in many of his works. In 1876, Shaw joined his mother in London where he would finally attain literary success. «You Never Can Tell» (1897) is a comedy of errors, mistaken identities, and connections reacquired that has delighted audiences for decades. The title comes from a sort of catch-phrase repeated throughout the play, hinting at the comedic mistaking of identities.
The Philanderer
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) is revered as one of the great British dramatists, credited not only with memorable works, but the revival of the then-suffering English theatre. Shaw was born in Dublin, Ireland, left mostly to his own devices after his mother ran off to London to pursue a musical career. He educated himself for the most part, and eventually worked for a real estate agent. This experience founded in him a concern for social injustices, seeing poverty and general unfairness afoot, and would go on to address this in many of his works. In 1876, Shaw joined his mother in London where he would finally attain literary success, and went on to win the Nobel Prize for literature in 1925. «The Philanderer» was written in 1893 as a critique of capitalist behavior, among other social conditions he saw as problematic. Due to British censorship laws, «The Philanderer» didn't see the stage until 1902.
Fanny's First Play
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) is revered as one of the great British dramatists, credited not only with memorable works, but the revival of the then-suffering English theatre. Shaw was born in Dublin, Ireland, left mostly to his own devices after his mother ran off to London to pursue a musical career. He educated himself for the most part, and eventually worked for a real estate agent. This experience founded in him a concern for social injustices, seeing poverty and general unfairness afoot, and would go on to address this in many of his works. In 1876, Shaw joined his mother in London where he would finally attain literary success. Written in 1911, Fanny's First Play was at first written anonymously, then later accredited to George Bernard Shaw. This work is a play within a play, with the main intention of satirizing theatre critics.
Androcles and the Lion
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) is revered as one of the great British dramatists, credited not only with memorable works, but the revival of the then-suffering English theatre. Shaw was born in Dublin, Ireland, left mostly to his own devices after his mother ran off to London to pursue a musical career. He educated himself for the most part, and eventually worked for a real estate agent. This experience founded in him a concern for social injustices, seeing poverty and general unfairness afoot, and would go on to address this in many of his works. In 1876, Shaw joined his mother in London where he would finally attain literary success. «Androcles and the Lion» is Shaw's take on the tale of Androcles, addressing the irreconcilable differences between the teachings of Jesus and traditional Roman values. Though the play deals with the heavy topics of Christianity and its social influence, Shaw uses comedy as a vehicle to propel this memorable theatrical work which is still read and performed to this day.
Great Catherine
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) is revered as one of the great British dramatists, credited not only with memorable works, but the revival of the then-suffering English theatre. Shaw was born in Dublin, Ireland, left mostly to his own devices after his mother ran off to London to pursue a musical career. He educated himself for the most part, and eventually worked for a real estate agent. This experience founded in him a concern for social injustices, seeing poverty and general unfairness afoot, and would go on to address this in many of his works. In 1876, Shaw joined his mother in London where he would finally attain literary success. Shaw used the stage to deliver messages to his audiences in the hope of bettering society. His vision was not just to reconcile issues within society, but to encourage mankind to strive for a sort of perfection close to divinity. He did not ask questions about the present, but envisioned an alternate reality altogether. «Great Catherine» is set in the court of Catherine the Great where a young British officer is sent to help ease Anglo-Russian relations. Unfortunately the officer misunderstands the situation so terribly that he finds his life in danger and must rely on the grace of Catherine to save him.
Pygmalion and Three Other Plays
George Bernard Shaw is one of the most influential playwrights of the twentieth century. The collection «Pygmalion and Three Other Plays» contains his best works, which are known for their rapier wit, ideas of decency, and portrayal of human relationships. Shaw wanted his audiences to realize that people, regardless of race, gender, or class, were all human beings with the same needs as everyone else. «Pygmalion» is a modern retelling of the classic story of the same name. Professor Henry Higgins, a phonetician, tries to transform a lower-class cockney girl into a lady by teaching her to speak like a proper Englishwoman. What Higgins forgets, though, is that Eliza is a human being who only wants to be treated as such; in Higgins' mind, Eliza is a fun wager, a test of his abilities. When he thinks that he has won and turned Eliza into a fine lady, he becomes lonely and misses her vivacious personality. «Major Barbara,» «The Doctor's Dilemma,» and «Heartbreak House» all deal with different themes, but each play contains a unique play of words, blending comedy with feeling and heart to create a story which will make a large impression on the audiences' heart.
John Bull's Other Island
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) is revered as one of the great British dramatists, credited not only with memorable works, but the revival of the then-suffering English theatre. Shaw was born in Dublin, Ireland, left mostly to his own devices after his mother ran off to London to pursue a musical career. He educated himself for the most part, and eventually worked for a real estate agent. This experience founded in him a concern for social injustices, seeing poverty and general unfairness afoot, and would go on to address this in many of his works. In 1876, Shaw joined his mother in London where he would finally attain literary success. Though written in his typical comedic fashion, John Bull's Other Island was the only play Shaw wrote that took place in Ireland, his birthplace. The play illustrates interest in both Irish and English cultures, and was received very well by critics. It is the story of two civil engineers: Larry Doyle, an Irishman who has turned his back on his heritage to fit in with English society and his business partner, Englishman Tom Broadbent.
Mrs. Warren's Profession
"Mrs. Warren's Profession" is George Bernard Shaw's classic play that centers on the relationship between Mrs. Warren, a prostitute, and her prudish Cambridge-educated daughter Vivie, who is horrified to discover that her mother's wealth was acquired through the operation of whore-houses. Shaw offers up this play «to draw attention to the truth that prostitution is caused, not by female depravity and male licentiousness, but simply by underpaying, undervaluing, and overworking women so shamefully that the poorest of them are forced to resort to prostitution to keep body and soul together.»
Major Barbara
"Major Barbara" is the story of its title character who as an officer in the Salvation Army becomes disenfranchised by the increasing social problems that she sees and the willingness of her organization to accept money from armament manufacturers. George Bernard Shaw's three-act drama is considered one of his most controversial for the criticisms that it levels against religion for contributing to the problems of society at the time.
Man and Superman and Three Other Plays
George Bernard Shaw, one of Britain's most acclaimed playwrights, produced a large wealth of dramatic and comedic plays during his lifetime. In «Man and Superman and Three Other Plays,» four of his most famous works are presented. In 1903's «Man and Superman,» we find a play that on the surface is a mere comedy of manners but upon deeper examination delves into the philosophic themes outlined by Nietzsche's «Ubermensch,» or more distinctly man's journey towards self-fulfillment and perfection. «Candida» questions the Victorian notions of love and marriage, and it looks to discover what both men and women expect from their partners. In «Mrs. Warren's Profession,» a daughter is horrified to hear about her mother's profession as a brothel owner. Shaw sought to expose the hypocrisies present in the Victorian middle class through each character's relationship with Mrs. Kitty Warren. Finally, Shaw's first financial success came from «The Devil's Disciple,» the story about self-proclaimed outcast and British supporter Richard Dudgeon during the American Revolution. Yet when he is mistaken for the local minister, a colonial sympathizer, Richard shocks everyone and keeps his own identity a secret. «Man and Superman and Three Other Plays» will please readers as a representative collection of one of Britain's most accomplished and prolific playwrights.